Police: Pa. man quotes Bogart, Sinatra while DUI

Published: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 7:04 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 7:04 a.m.

TYRONE, Pa. (AP) — A 78-year-old man was apparently doing things "His Way" when police charged him with drunken driving following a fender bender in his apartment building's parking lot.

Herbert Goss of Tyrone quoted famous lines from Humphrey Bogart and Frank Sinatra when police responded to the wreck on the night of June 18, the Altoona Mirror (http://bit.ly/1476Rt5 ) reported Tuesday.

When Officer Barry Frye tried to question Goss, the suspect allegedly recited Bogart's famous line from "Casablanca" saying, "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world."

Police said Goss segued into Sinatra's "My Way" once it became clear he was in trouble, saying "And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain."

Goss told The Associated Press he plans to fight the charges and isn't guilty — although the version of events he gave Tuesday is the same as that spelled out by police.

But Goss doesn't believe he should have been charged with drunken driving because his car was parked and he was already out of it by the time police arrived. Goss said he wasn't that intoxicated but was instead dizzy from taking two medications on an empty stomach while at a nearby bar before driving home.

"I was overmedicated," Goss said.

He acknowledged regaling the police with movie and music lines to a reporter who called him at home on Tuesday.

"I'm locally known as a legend. Everybody says that's in my own mind, but if you don't blow your own horn, who's gonna blow it for you?" said Goss, who writes a weekly column for his tiny hometown newspaper.

<p>TYRONE, Pa. (AP) — A 78-year-old man was apparently doing things "His Way" when police charged him with drunken driving following a fender bender in his apartment building's parking lot.</p><p>Herbert Goss of Tyrone quoted famous lines from Humphrey Bogart and Frank Sinatra when police responded to the wreck on the night of June 18, the Altoona Mirror (http://bit.ly/1476Rt5 ) reported Tuesday.</p><p>When Officer Barry Frye tried to question Goss, the suspect allegedly recited Bogart's famous line from "Casablanca" saying, "Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world."</p><p>Police said Goss segued into Sinatra's "My Way" once it became clear he was in trouble, saying "And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain."</p><p>Goss told The Associated Press he plans to fight the charges and isn't guilty — although the version of events he gave Tuesday is the same as that spelled out by police.</p><p>But Goss doesn't believe he should have been charged with drunken driving because his car was parked and he was already out of it by the time police arrived. Goss said he wasn't that intoxicated but was instead dizzy from taking two medications on an empty stomach while at a nearby bar before driving home.</p><p>"I was overmedicated," Goss said.</p><p>He acknowledged regaling the police with movie and music lines to a reporter who called him at home on Tuesday.</p><p>"I'm locally known as a legend. Everybody says that's in my own mind, but if you don't blow your own horn, who's gonna blow it for you?" said Goss, who writes a weekly column for his tiny hometown newspaper.</p>